Wines of Provence
CONTENTS
The Wines of Provence
Welcome to our Wines of Provence section where you will discover the wines of Provence and the Rhône valley. Learn all there is to know about wine with the help of our topic host Jean-Pierre Blondel. A native of Provence, Jean-Pierre has worked in the wine business in France and the U.S. for over 25 years. You can even email him directly with your questions or comments.
The A.O.C Wines of Provence
Ten official appellations
Vines existed in Provence before the Greeks arrived in 600 B.C.; however it was first the Greeks, followed by the Romans, who introduced systematic growing and pruning techniques to Provence. The region has 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and very little rain - the classic Mediterranean climate ...
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The Wines of the Côtes du Rhône
A brief history
The Rhone Valley, by its very nature, has always been the ideal route between the Mediterranean and northern Europe and the Atlantic. The Ancient Greeks used the Rhone to travel into the heart of Gaul to carry out trade ...
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An Introduction to Wine
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A brief introduction to wine, its components and how it is made. Wine is produced from the fermented juice of the grapes of the Vitis Vinifera, a species of vine known to man for millennia. A number of natural factors are important ...
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The Aromas in Wine
Recognizing specific odors
When describing the aromas found in wine, the first impression to describe is that of the intensity, persistence and general quality of the aromas or "nose". The second stage involves noting the general character of the nose. The final stage consists in identifying specific aromas: intensity, persistence, quality ...more...
Describing the Taste of Wine
Taste and the tactile components
Describing how a wine tastes involves evaluating various aspects of the wine: the relationship of sugar content and acidity; the tactile components of the wine, including alcohol content, tannin levels and the wine's body and texture; the wine's finish - any lingering sensations; as well as the overall balance and harmony of the wine. This article will guide you through the various tastes associated with describing a wine's taste ...more...
Matching Food and Wine
Bringing out the best of both worlds
The successful combination of food and wine at table brings out the best in both the meal and the wine. Rules about matching food and wine aim to provide guidance in this difficult art. They should not however be interpreted so rigidly that they ...
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The Role of Wine in Diet and Health
What is a healthful consumption? Wine is the quintessential food beverage. Evidence both historical and modern confirms its role in a healthy diet. Its virtues are most evident when it accompanies food that goes naturally with it - which probably explains why the Mediterranean diet, exemplified by the symbiosis of ... more...Making Sparkling Wines
Two methods There are two main methods of making sparkling wine, the Methode Champenoise of bottle fermentation, and the closed tank fermentation method, often referred to as Methode Charmat (from the name of the French scientist who developed it) ... more...A Short List of French Wine Terms
A list of common and not-so-common French wine terms and their definitions. more...Best Wines to Drink with Bouillabaisse
Find a fresh, young wine
As always with fish, I tend to prefer white or rosés since I find red wines to take a “metallic” taste with fish dishes. Granted, it could be strictly a personal preference since I obviously do not know how other people’s palates react. For Bouillabaisse, the choice is simple: a white or rosé de Provence ...
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